Adjustable column support



Sept. 28, 1965 D. F. SAMHAMMER ETAL 3,208,698

ADJUSTABLE COLUMN SUPPORT Original Filed April 7, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Sept. 28, 1965 D. F. SAMHAMMER ETAL 3,208,698

ADJUSTABLE COLUMN SUPPORT Original Filed April '7, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Sept. 28, 1965 D. F. SAMHAMMER ETAL. 3,208,698

ADJUSTABLE COLUMN SUPPORT Original Filed April 7, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3United States Patent C) 3,208,698 ADJUSTABLE COLUMN SUPPORT Donald F.Samhammer and George E. Hepola, Utica,

'N.Y., assignors to 'Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company,

New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Original application Apr. 7,1958, Ser. No. 726,927, now

Patent No. 3,061,023, dated Oct. 30, 1962. Divided and this applicationJuly 25, 1962, Ser. No. 215,235

2'Claims. '(Cl. 248-13) This application is a division of Iour parentapplication for Shaftv Jumbo Drill Apparatus, Serial No. 726,927, tile-dApril 7, 1958, land now issued at Patent No. 3,061,023 dated October 30,1962.

This invention relates to jumbo size drill apparatus of a type whichfinds particular use in drilling in rock deep vertical shafts ofrelatively wide diameter, which carries a number of boom-drill sets yforthis purpose, and which is adapted to be lifted, lowered or moved aboutby a hoist. More particularly, this invention is concerned with animproved jumbo size -d-rill apparatus of this nature which has variousdesirable features and consequent advantages. The apparatus of thepresent invention is adapted to dig a hole some 22 feet in diameter and2,000 feet and more, deep. It is adapted to be moved down into the shaftas the shaft deepens.

A feature of the invention lies in the general overall construction ofthe apparatus whereby a safe and practical structure of this nature isprovided. yIt is balanced in its structure and in the arrangement of aplurality of boom-drill sets thereon, whereby its presents no dicultiesof imbalance or dangers when in use or when it is being raised, loweredor moved about by a hoist.

Another feature of the invention is provided by various securingelements, whereby various parts are restrained Iagainst dangerousmovement while the apparatus is being hoisted.

Another feature of the invention lies in the provision of a supportingcenter column whereby the usefulness of the apparatus is materiallyimproved. The center column is made to 'function as a ladder for meansof ascent and descent to and from a deck at the top of the apparatus. Itis further made to function as a pneumatic supply reservoir or manifoldhaving a plurality of desirably located taps from which variousassociated pneumatically powered devices can be supplied. A furtheradvantage of t-he center column is its elevated condition relative tothe ground whereby drilling operations may be effected directly belowthe column without moving the apparatus.

A further feature of the invention is a desirable arrangement of legmembers whereby the apparatus is supported upon the ground and wherebythe central column is maintained erect and elevated relative to theground. Because of this advantageous arrangement, a hoist is notrequired `for Isupport nor are supporting braces required to extend fromthe apparatus to the side walls of the hole.

A particular feature of the leg structures lies in their adjustablenature whereby they may be selectively adjusted in length so .as tolevel the apparatus as needed. Their length may be further adjusted soas to maintain the bottom of the center column at a desirable distanceabove the ground.

A further feature of the legs is their particular manner of attachmentto the apparatus. They are pivotally connected to the center columnwhereby they may be angularly extended for purposes of support or may beangularly collapsed to a narrow vertical position when the apparatus isbeing raised or lowered. Another feature is a bracket -arrangementassociating the legs with the center column whereby thrust loads actingupon the legs are transmitted in large -measure to a center point of thecolumn.

ICC

Another particular feature of the legs Ilies in a desirable footassembly at the end of each leg. One feature of each foot assembly liesin its structure whereby it grips the Iground and prevents creeping ofthe apparatus on the ground. Another feature of each foot assembly isits manner of association with its leg whereby the latter may be -readiyadjusted in length while the foot assembly is engaged with the ground.

A general object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an improvedshaft jumbo type drill apparatus which reduces the common hazards ofsuch structures to a minimum, is easily maneuverable, and is practicalfor the purposes intended.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide an improved andpractical supporting structure in a jumbo size drill apparatus forsupporting the various associated tools thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a jumbo sizedrill apparatus having an overhead deck, a plurality of swivelly mounteddepending boom-drill sets and a collapsible supporting leg arrangementwhereby the boom-drill sets may be swivelled to a desirable positionbelow the deck and the legs may be collapsed to a vertical conditionbelow the deck so that in hoisting operations the .apparatus may beeasily lowered or removed from a shaft without interfering with crossheads arranged about the surface end of the shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a jumbo size drillapparatus a center column which serves as the center of support of theapparatus in hoisting operations; and -functions as a pneumaticreservoir, a ladder, and as a support for a plurality of legs intendedto bear the assembled weight of the apparatus and intended to hold thecenter column in an elevated condition relative to the ground.

The invention further lies in the 4general construction of its componentparts and also in their cooperative association with one another toeffect the results intended herein.

' The foregoing and other features, objects and advantages of theinvention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of thedetailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanyingdrawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is tobe expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes ofillustration and description, and are not to be construed as definingthe limits of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view of the shaft jumbo drill apparatus in end elevation;and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

Reference is now directed to the several drawings wherein there is showna jumbo size drill apparatus embodying the invention, which findsparticular use in drilling into rock deep vertical shafts of substantialdiameter. The apparatus includes a main supporting struct-ure 20 havinga horizontally disposed platform or deck 21 mounted centrally atop anelongated vertical center post or column 22 which in turn is supportedby a plurality of angularly extendible legs 23, here, four in number,three being shown in FIG. l. The deck supports at its underside aplurality of pressure fluid operated boomdrill sets 24, here, four innumber, one of which is shown in FIG. 1. The supporting structure 20serves to support various pressure fluid supply devices for supplyingoperat` ing fluid to the several boom-drill sets. A clevis 26 projectingvertically above the deck from the center of the supporting structure 20is enga-geable by a hoist whereby the entire apparatus, together withthe various members supported by it, may be lifted, lowered or portedand located where desi-red.

The center column 22 is a hollow cylinder sealed over wat opposite endsby plates 33 and 34-ixed thereto. Plate 34 caps the top of the column.It is relatively thick and rectangular in form. It is xed to the centerunderside of the floor plate 27. The clevis 26, which is fixed t-o thetop of cap plate 34, projects above the floor plate 27 through a smallhole 30 in the latter.

The ldepending center column is supported in vertically erect positionby the legs 23 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4). Each leg is pivoted at its upper endin a separate bracket 38. These brackets are arranged circumferentiallyabout the center column in the same plane at a short distance below thedeck, and they are centered 90 degrees apart. Each 'bracket inclu-des aback or box plate 39 xed to the center col-umn, and a pair of parallelbearing flanges 41 which support between them a pivot pin 42 for theassociated leg. Each leg is tubular, and has a cap 43 fixed over its topend which supports the leg between the flanges for pivot movement on pin42. The flanges 41 of the bracket extend radially from the centercolumn, and the arrangement of the pivot position of the leg in theflange of the bracket is such that the legs when collapsed or folded,have a vertical position in close parallel relation to the centercolumn. From this latter position, the legs are pivotable angularlyoutward to the position shown in FIG. 1. The legs are relatively longerthan the center column so that in their Vertical collapsed position, aswell as in their fully angularly extended position, the center column issupported clear of the ground. This elevated condition of the centercolumn from the ground level is desired, as it enables drillingoperations in the ground a-rea directly below the column withoutnecessitating removal of the overhead structure.

Each leg is locked against moving from its angularly extended positionby a separate brace 44 (FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 6). One end of the latter ispivoted on a cross pin 45 supported between a pair of parallel anchorplates 46 xed near the lower end of the associated leg. A cotter pin 40retains the position of the cross pin. The opposite end of the brace ispivoted on a cross pin 47 supported between a pair of side flanges 48 ofa bracket 49 fixed to the lower area of the periphery of the centercolumn. The cross pins at both ends of the brace are removable to permitready removal of the leg braces when required. In practice, however, theinner pins 47 of the several legs are adapted to be removed to permitcollapsing of the legs to vertical position preparatory to elevating orlowering the legs into a shaft, or when shipping the apparatus. Aseparate chain 51, one of which is shown, is associated with eachbracket 49. It is linked at one end to the bracket and linked at theother to the cross pin 47. It serves to keep the latter against losssubsequent to its removal from the brace. The brace anchor plates 46extend radially inward, and the arrangement of the pivoted end of theassociated brace 44 between them is such that the brace is pivotable upor down into parallel close relation to the leg. The brace at times ispivoted upwards when collapsing the related leg, and is held when sopivoted, to the latter by a wrap-around chain 52 anchored at one end tothe leg. The arrangement of the cross pins 45, 47 and their associatedbrackets is such that each brace in the angularly extended position ofits associated leg is maintained at right angles to the center column,thus materially strengthening the legs against inward collapse under theload of the entire apparatus as well as under the added thrust developedby the several boom-drill sets during operation.

Each leg is provided with a foot assembly 53 (FIGS. 1, 2) whichfunctions to provide a secure footing for the overhead structure, andwhich is adjustable, when required because of an uneven ground surface,to obtain a level condition of the deck 21. It is desired that the deckhave a level condition to assure a firm ground hold of the entirestructure during work and drilling operations. To accommodate the footassemblies, the legs 23 are hollow and open in their bottom ends. A footassembly includes an internally threaded short sleeve 54 which is fixedin the bottom end of the leg and has a radially enlarged external head55 which abuts the end wall of the leg. An end of an elongated adjustingscrew 56 is threadedly received through sleeve 54 axially into theinterior of the leg. A head 57 pinned upon the inner end of the screw isadapted to ride over the interior wall of the leg as a support for thescrew. In a fully axially extended condition of the screw the head end57 thereof is adapted to abut against the inner end of the sleeve 54,thus preventing escape of the screw from the leg. The screw terminatesat its lower end in a ball head 58. The latter is retained in a socket59 of a foot piece 60, and forms with the socket a universal joint. Thefoot piece has a plurality of cone shaped teeth 61, here three, twobeing shown, which depend in triangular relation from the undersidethereof. These are adapted under the weight of the overhead structure tobite into the ground surface and thereby prevent creeping or slipping ofthe position of the overhead structure during drilling operations. Eachleg is axially adjustable in length by threading screw 56 in or out ofthe leg as required, until a level condition of the deck is obtained.Cross holes 62, located through a thickened portion of the shank of thescrew just above the universal joint accommodate a rod or tool handlefor manually effecting rotation of the screw. The anchorage of the footpiece to the ground, and the associated universal joint enable rotationof screw 56 without consequent rotation of the foot piece 60'. Amanually operable winged lock nut 63 threaded on the external end of thescrew is adapted, when tightened against the leg end 55, to lock thescrew against further rotation.

The foot assembly may take the modified form shown in FIGS. 7, 8. Inthis form, the extensible elongated adjusting screw indicated at 64 isnot axially threaded into the end ofthe associated leg. Instead, thereis fixed on the outside of the lower end of the associated leg 23 aninternally threaded open ended short cylinder 65 through which the screwis threadable. Anchor plates 46 pivotally supporting the brace 44 at oneend strengthen the support of cylinder 65 to the leg 23. When theassociated leg is angularly extended to its full radial distance fromthe center column, the short cylinder 65 and screw 64 therein will havethe vertical position in FIG. 7. The bottom end of the screw terminatesin a ball 66 which is retained for universal movement in a socketprovided in a foot pad 68. The screw is formed with a thickened head 69at its upper end having cross holes 70 which are adapted to accommodatea tool for turning the screw as desired in one direction or the other. Awinged lock nut 71 on the screw is adapted, when threaded tightly intoabutment with the adjacent end of cylinder 65, to lock the screw in itsadjusted position.

Some of the load carried by each leg 23 reacts strongly against itspivoted upper end. The bracket 38 is here designed to reduce strain atthis point upon the pivot pin 42 and to transfer it substantially to thecenter column 22. To this end (FIGS. 1, 3, 4), a block 72 is fixedbetween the top ends of the flanges of the bracket and is angularlythickened on its underside as at 73. The rear of this block is unitarywith the -back plate 39 of the bracket. The thickened portion 73declines downward toward the center column. The declining undersurfaceof this thickened portion is at right angles to the longitudinal axis ofthe related leg when the latter is fully extended angularly outward, asin FIG. 1. The leg cap 43 forming the pivoted end of the leg has an endsurface 74 which is adapted to abut flush against the underside 73 ofthe thickened portion upon pivoting of the leg to its angular position.To enable this abutment and pivoting, a rounded corner 75 is formed onthe leg cap 43.

The center column 22, as earlier mentioned, is hollow and sealed at bothends. In a physical embodiment, it is approximately ten inches indiameter and about fourteen feet in height. These dimensions arementioned as an indication of the jumbo size of the entire apparatus.Accordingly, it provides an interior chamber of substantial volume,which here serves as a pressure air supply reservoir for effectingoperation of the various associated pneumatically powered devices. Apair of pressure air supply pipe lines 148, 149 pass down through thecentral area of the deck 21 and tap at opposite areas into the upper endof the center column. These pipe lines are adapted at their upper endsfor connection above the deck to a suitable source of pressure air, suchas an air compressor, not shown, which would be located on the groundsurface. Because of the use of the center column as an air reservoir,the compressor can be located at a remote point from the shaft.

About midway of the center column are four outlet pipe lines 152, two ofwhich are shown in FIG. 1. These tap into the interior of the column.These outlet pipe lines are spaced 90 degrees apart and extend down inparallel close relation to the center column for a short distance. Eachoutlet pipe includes a manually operable shut-off valve 153, and isintended to supply a separate one of the boom-drill sets 24 with therequired operating pneumatic uid.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable leg assembly in a jumbo drill apparatus of thecharacter described including a rock drill loadable elongated column anda plurality of leg means supporting the column in erect position, eachleg means comprising a leg member pivotable from a position angularlydisposed relative to the column to a depending vertical positionadjacent the column, a bracket pivotally supporting an upper end of theleg to the column, and a brace disposed at right angles to the lower endof the column having one end pivoted to the leg and its opposite enddetachably supported to the column; wherein the bracket is characterizedby a pair of parallel plates eX- tending radially from the column, apivot pin supported betweent the plates, and a thick block piece havinga rear wall fixed in parallel abutment with the column and having anundersurface inclined upward above the pivot pin; and wherein the upperend of the leg is pivoted on the pivot pin between the plates and ischaracterized by a flat end surface formed at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the leg and adapted to abut flush with theundersurface of the block piece upon pivoting of the leg member from avertical position outwardly to the said angularly pivoted position, sothat the load of the column is transmitted through the block piece andthe tlat end surface over substantially the entire cross area of theleg, and the pivot pin is free of such load.

2. In a jumbo drill apparatus of the character described, including amain supporting column, an adjustable leg assembly adapted together withsimilar other leg assemblies to support the column in erect position,the leg assembly comprising an elongated leg mounted at one end to thecolumn and extending downward and angularly away therefrom, a braceconnected at one end to the lower end of the leg and at the other to thelower area of the column and at right angles to the latter, and anelongated ground engaging member selectively extendible axially out ofthe free lower end of the leg toward the ground, wherein the leg istubular, a nut is fixed in the bottom end of the leg, the groundengaging member has an elongated threaded portion threadedly extendingthrough and beyond the nut freely into the interior of the leg, and abearing member is xed upon the upper end of the interiorly extendingthreaded portion, which bearing member at all times engages and isadapted to ride over the interior wall surface of the leg as the groundengaging member is threaded in and out of the leg, whereby radialmovement of the upper end of the threaded portion of the ground engagingmember relative to the interior wall surface of the leg and consequentbinding of one to the other is avoided.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,262,938 11/41Howard 248--188 2,338,092 l/ 44 Brown 248--193 X 2,416,848 3/47 Bothery248--170 2,496,851 2/50 Bunker 248-170 2,578,826 12/51 Mrofka 248- 193 X2,885,181 5/59 McCully 248-193 X FOREIGN PATENTS 625,839 7/ 49 GreatBritain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner,

1. AN ADJUSTABLE LEG ASSEMBLY IN A JUMBO DRILL APPARATUS OF THECHHARACTER DESCRIBED INCLUDING A ROCK DRILL LOADABLE ELONGATED COLUMNAND A PLURALITY OF LEG MEANS SUPPORTING THE COLUMN INN ERECT POSITION,EACH LEG MEANS COMPRISING A LEG MEMBER PIVOTABLE FROM A POSITIONANGULARLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO THE COLUMN TO A DEPENDING VERTICALPOSITION ADJACENT THE COLUMN, A BRACKET PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING AN UPPEREND OF THE LEG TO THE COLUMN, AND A BRACE DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES TOTHE LOWER END OF THE COLUMN HAVING ONE END PIVOTED TO THE LEG AND ITSOPPOSITE END DETACHABLY SUPPORTED TO THE COLUMMN; WHEREINN THE BRACKETIS CHARACTERIZED BBY A PAIR OF PARALLEL PLATES EXTENDING RADIALLY FROMTHE COLUMN, A PIVOT PIN SUPPORTED BETWEEN TTHE PLATES, AND A THICK BLOCKPIECCE HAVING A REAR WALL FIXED IN PARALLEL ABUTMENT WITH THE COLUMN ANDHAVING AN UNDERSURFACE INCLINED UPWARD ABOVE THE PIVOT PIN; AND WHEREINTHE UPPER END OF THE LEG IS PIVOTED ON THE PIVOT PIN BETWEEN THE PLATESAND IS CHARACTERIZED BY A FLAT END SURFACE FORMED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THELONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE LELG AND ADAPTED TO ABUT FLUSH WITH THE LEGMEMBER FROM A VERTICAL POSITION OUTWARDLY TO THE LEG MEMBEER FROM AVERRTICAL POSITION OUTWARDLY TO THE SAID ANGULARLY PIVOTED POSITTION, SOTHAT TE LOAD OF THE COLUMN IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE BLOCK PIECE ANDTHE FLAT END SURFACE OVER SUBSTANTIALLY THEE ENTIRE CROSS AREA OF THELEG, AND TTHE PIVOT PIN IS FREE OF SUCH LOAD.